Seems to be a lot of interest in Geoff Paukovich and Ryan Dingle, two guys that would be seniors this season if they stayed at DU.

So I’m curious. One, do you think they regret signing early, considering they’re both in the East league after expecting to play in the A? Two, if they had stayed would DU be better?

The latter question also is posed in reference to defensemen TJ Fast and Keith Seabrook, who left for major-junior.

I think Dingle would help DU — greatly — because he could have reached 30 goals and spread out the Trotter-Rakhshani-Ruegsegger “problem” of wanting to play that trio together, but you can’t because the fab freshmen can’t be trusted by themselves … yet. By January, however, I think Tyler Bozak could be as good as Dingle. Bottom line: Missing Dingle hurts now, but won’t later … but of course the Pios would be better off with both Dingle and Bozak.

Paukovich … not so much. DU doesn’t have that feared forechecker anymore after losing Pauko, Steve Cook and JP Testwuide (moved to D), but … I don’t think Paukovich would have been happy being the team’s seventh or eighth goal scorer. I see him on the PP, but only above the crease. Indeed, I agree with those bloggers that said Pauko’s time to leave had come.

What about Fast and Seabrook? From what I see, the D is solid without two guys that gave up far too soon. ‘Nuff said. — MC